Argentina's outstanding unbeaten run in international football came to an end against Saudi Arabia in their first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Asian side came from a goal behind to beat Lionel Scaloni's side 2-1 at the Lusail Stadium. 

Argentina's 5-0 victory against UAE in a friendly match ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches, second only to Mancini's Italy. Their previous best record of 31 games was set between 1991-1993. They fell one short of Italy's all-time record of 37 unbeaten games. 

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are just 1 game away from the longest unbeaten run in ALL of football!

Will the record be broken? pic.twitter.com/hL15lDcktI

�?Exclusive Messi �?(@ExclusiveMessi) November 16, 2022

Italy's record run without losing a game came to an against Spain. Manchester City's Ferran Torres scored a brace as La Roja took partial revenge for their Euro 2020 semi-final penalty shootout defeat against the eventual champions Italy.

37 �?Italy have ended an unbeaten streak of 37 consecutive games: the longest such run ever for a major National team in general. Braking.#ItalySpain pic.twitter.com/E10vl1sg1I

�?OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 6, 2021

The Italian team had previously played a draw against Switzerland on September 6 which broke the 35-match unbeaten run record that was shared by Brazil (1993-1996) and Spain (2007-2009) for the longest unbeaten run in international football.

Interestingly, the last time Roberto Mancini's Italy had lost a game was on September 10, 2018, when Andre Silva’s 48th minute strike was enough for Portugal to win 1-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League. The Italians have now lost just four matches since Mancini took charge of the national team.

Italy's 2-1 win over Austria in the Euro 2020 round of 16 saw the team surpass the previous national record set by Vittorio Pozzo’s Italian team of the 1930s, which was an extremely successful era for the Azzurri. 

Italy have broken their unbeaten record in their NT HISTORY.

31 wins, beating the 30 under Vittorio Pozzo in 1939.

via Opta pic.twitter.com/ewzvPhwtOr

�?Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) June 26, 2021

Under Pozzo, Italy went unbeaten between October 1935 and July 1939. During this time, they won a second successive World Cup and the gold medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Longest unbeaten run in international football

Italy set national record for longest run without conceding

On a day when the Italian side was largely troubled by Austria, they managed to break another one of their own records for not conceding a goal. After their round of 16 clash against Austria ended 0-0 in normal time, the Italian team completed 1,168 minutes without conceding a goal and set a new national record.

However, their record for the longest run without conceding a goal ended a mere 25 minutes later when Sasa Kalajdzic beat Gianluigi Donnarumma by heading the ball into Italy’s net in extra time. Before that, the Netherlands were the last team to score against Italy and they did so in a Nations League match on October 14, 2020.

The previous record for Italy not conceding a goal was set under Ferruccio Valcareggi when goalkeeper Dino Zoff went 1143 minutes without conceding a goal.

Featured Photo: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

While scoring a goal is widely accepted as one of the most difficult things to do in football, doing so as you shoulder the expectations of an entire nation comes with even more pressure unlike anything in club football. Only a handful of players have risen to the challenge in the past and have been rewarded with a Golden Boot for scoring the maximum number of goals in UEFA Euro.

Since the inception of the European championship in 1960, there have been 12 individual golden boot winners with Cristiano Ronaldo being the last after top-scoring in the 2020 edition of the Euros. In four instances, the award has been shared with two or more players.

What happens if there is more than one player with the same number of goals?

Since 2008, two specific criterias have been added to decide the eventual winner of the Golden Boot.

1. If more than one player has the same number of goals, the player with the most assists wins.
2. If more than one player has the same number of goals and assists, the player who achieved the record in less game time wins.

Which Golden Boot winner scored the most goals in a single edition of Euro?

France legend Michel Platini, who led his side to victory as hosts of the 1984 edition, scored the highest number of goals - nine. The record still stands to this date.

Antoine Griezmann, who won the Golden Boot in 2016, came close to the record with his six goals and had further added one more to his tally in the 2020 edition.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo won the Euro 2020 Golden Boot after he scored five goals in the tournament. Both Ronaldo and Czech Republic attacker Patrik Schick had registered five goals in the competition, however, the 36-year-old Juventus star won via the tie-breaker of assists.

List of Golden Boot winners

Featured photo: AFP / Christof Stache

The Italy national football team scripted a memorable end to their UEFA Euro 2020 campaign as they beat England 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in the final on Sunday.

The Italians reached their fourth final at the European championships. They extended their unbeaten run under manager Roberto Mancini and went on to win their second Euro title and a first since 1968.

53 - Italy have won their second European Championship trophy after 53 years from their first one (1968), the largest gap for a single side in the history of the competition. CHAMPIONS!#ItaliaInghilterra #Euro2020Final #EURO2020 #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/EvTkIX9jz0

�?OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 11, 2021

England left-back Luke Shaw scored the fastest goal in a Euro final, when he converted a cross from Kieran Trippier in the second minute. Just as things looked to be going in England’s favour, Leonardo Bonucci equalised for Italy. Bonucci’s 67th-minute goal meant the Juventus defender became the oldest goal-scorer in a Euro final.

1:57 - Luke Shaw's opener was the quickest ever goal scored in the final of the European Championships, as well as his first ever for the England national team. Dream. #ENG #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/l80WW6f4ZL

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2021

34 & 71 - Leonardo Bonucci (34 years and 71 days) has become the oldest scorer in a EURO final, beating the previous record of Bernd Hölzenbein in 1976 (30 years and 103 days). Strike.#ItaliaInghilterra #Euro2020Final #EURO2020 #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/0VC6UhTJOZ

�?OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 11, 2021

After neither team managed to break the deadlock in extra time, the final went into penalties in what was just the second instance in the tournament’s history after the European championship 1976.

2 - EURO 2020 will be only the second European Championship final to be decided via a penalty shootout, after the 1976 showpiece. Nerves. #ENG #ITA #EURO2020

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2021

Gianluigi Donnarumma, who kept three clean sheets in seven matches at Euro 2020, held his nerve to save Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Sako’s spot-kicks to hand the Azzurri their second European championship. The 22-year-old shot-stopper’s efforts earned him the Golden Ball award for the Best Player of the Tournament.

Donnarumma, currently a free agent, became just the second goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball award after Denmark’s Peter Schmeichel in 1992.

Who scored the most goals in Euro 2020?

Italy and Spain shared the record for most goals in Euro 2020, finding the back of the net 13 times. While Mancini’s men took seven games to score that many goals, Spain netted 13 times in just six matches. 

The Euro 2020 goals tally (142 goals) and goals-per-game ratio (2.78 goals per match) are also new record highs for any edition of the tournament.

On the individual level, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot for scoring five goals and an assist. The Portugal captain, the only player to appear and score in five consecutive European championships, is the all-time leading scorer in Euros with 14 goals.

Who scored the most own goals in Euro 2020?

Euro 2020 saw as many as 11 own goals, which is more than all the previous editions of the European Championship combined. Portugal and Slovakia registered the most in Euro 2020, with two own goals each in a single game in the group stage.

Spain’s Pedri, adjudged the Young Player of the Tournament, has an unwanted record to his name as he netted the longest own goal scored at any European championship (44 metres) in the round of 16 meeting with Croatia.

Who registered the most assists in Euro 2020?

Switzerland’s Steven Zuber recorded four assists in four games in Euro 2020 to finish as the player with the most assists.

The 29-year-old midfielder equalled the record for most assists in a single European championship, shared by Ljubinko Drulović (2000), Karel Poborský (2004), Eden Hazard (2016) and Aaron Ramsey (2016).

Who conceded the least goals in Euro 2020?

England conceded the fewest goals in Euro 2020. The Three Lions kept clean sheets in the group stage, the round of 16 and quarter-finals before conceding once each in the semis and finals.

Who registered the most clean sheets in Euro 2020?

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford registered the most clean sheets in Euro 2020, keeping five shutouts in seven games.

The Everton custodian made 16 saves in the tournament, but wasn’t rewarded with the Golden Glove as UEFA doesn’t have an award for the best goalkeeper.

Who was the Best Young Player of Euro 2020?

Spain's 18-year-old midfielder Pedri was named the Best Young Player of Euro 2020. The Barcelona youngster, who had just four international caps to his name before this year’s European championship, played a pivotal part in La Roja’s run to the semi-finals.

Pedri played 629 minutes for Spain in Euro 2020, completing 92.3 per cent of his passes. In the semi-final against Italy, the 18-year-old completed 65 of his 66 passes across 120 minutes of action.

Featured photo: AFP / Laurence Griffiths

Former England goalkeeper David James believes that the England football team’s coach Gareth Southgate and his players will rise to the occasion in the UEFA Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday night. 

The former England goalkeeper thinks ‘it’s coming home�? not because England are playing at home but because they have a very wise and cool head in their manager on the sidelines.

“One thing Gareth has done is change this team to suit the opposition not only with the personnel but also with the setup and tactics and his selections have been spot on so far,�?James, who is in Mumbai as an expert for Sony Sports, told a media conference on Friday evening.

Addressing the “It’s Coming Home�?frenzy, he said, “I have avoided saying that as long as possible in this tournament. So, if football is coming home, It is coming home.”�?/span>

The former Kerala Blasters manager, who represented England in 53 games, has felt that Southgate has been smart in extracting the best out of the English players, including Raheem Sterling, one of the standout performers in the tournament. 

“Raheem has faced criticism by journalists and fans. As an England fan, I find the sources outdated. The goal tally may not be as good as previous seasons but his contribution is right up there with when Man City won the league. Gareth’s selection is based on what players do in training and his expectations from them to deliver on the pitch, not what they have achieved in the league and Raheem has been delivering for him. So, Gareth has got it right,�?James opined. 

The former Liverpool and Portsmouth goalkeeper also insisted that the Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma has done better in the Euros than his English counterpart Jordan Pickford despite the Everton shot-stopper keeping five clean sheets in six games. 

“Jordan Pickford had a fantastic tournament. He is almost like Ronaldo. He has broken records of most clean sheets. When you look at what he has had to do, he hasn’t been overly tested in spite of making great saves. Whereas Donnarumma has been put under pressure in the penalties where he made the winning save. So, Donnarumma is in better form, even though he has conceded more goals. So I think Donnarumma is the one to watch,�?he said.

When specifically quizzed about his prediction for the final, he quipped, “Going into the Euro, my second favorite team has been Italy and one of the things I have been saying is whoever beats Italy, wins the trophy.�?/span>

Featured photo: Frank Augstein /Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP

Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri has heaped praise on England captain Harry Kane and winger Raheem Sterling, stating that their partnership will be a threat in the UEFA Euro 2020 final on Sunday, July 11.

Harry Kane, who has become England’s joint-top scorer in major tournaments (Euro and World Cup), has scored four goals in the Euro knockouts after drawing a blank in the group stage. Kane’s goal against Denmark made him just the second English player to score in the semi-final of a European championship.

Only two players have scored in a European Championship semi-final for #ENG

EURO 1996: Alan Shearer#EURO2020: Harry Kane

England’s No.9s delivering on the big stage. pic.twitter.com/qT6K6PQHsQ

�?Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 7, 2021

Sterling, on the other hand, has been England’s top player in recent times as he has made 22 goal contributions (15 goals, seven assists) in just as many games for the Three Lions.

The Manchester City winger, who won a controversial penalty for England in the semi-final against Denmark, registered nine dribbles against the Danes - the most by any player in a single match of Euro 2020 and Sterling’s brilliance hasn’t been lost on Chhetri.

9 - Raheem Sterling completed nine dribbles against Denmark, the most of any player in a single match at #EURO2020. Contact. pic.twitter.com/4xR2yHLKKM

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 8, 2021

“Every attacking move for England has happened because of (Raheem) Sterling. The whole English team is heavily reliant on him going forward. Sterling can open up the opposition defence, get behind their defender to ask for a long ball, can take the ball and start dribbling which is his forte,�?Sunil Chhetri said during a media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.

Apart from Sterling, Chhetri credited Harry Kane for his impact on England. The Indian skipper believes there is no better number 9 for the Three Lions at present, and rated his opening goal against Ukraine as a “proper striker's finish�?in Euro 2020.

"There are some really good ones but because maybe it's recent, I think for me Kane's goal. The toe-poke! Sterling cuts in and passes the ball. Kane gambles and he didn't reach the ball so he toe-poked it. For me, that was a proper striker’s finish,�?the Indian football team captain said.

Furthermore, Chhetri reckoned that the Harry Kane-Raheem Sterling partnership is simply unmatched, especially in man-to-man situations.

“No country has a pairing like them (Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling). In man-to-man situations, Kane and Sterling can arguably beat anyone in the world.�?/span>

The Bengaluru FC frontman, though, insisted that Italy won’t be an easy team to beat in the UEFA Euro 2020 final. Chhetri expressed his admiration for Roberto Mancini's side, currently two games shy of matching the longest unbeaten run in international football.

“No matter which team you are, and against who you play, having a streak like this is outstanding. Italy does not have a flair like Spain or the individual brilliance of Brazil or Argentina but they are such a difficult team to play against,�?Chhetri said.

Watch England vs Italy at UEFA EURO 2020 - Finals, Live on Sony Ten 2 channel on 12th July at 12:30 AM

Featured image: AFP / Alberto Lingria

Roberto Mancini’s Italy take on Gareth Southgate’s England in the final of the UEFA Euro 2020 at the iconic Wembley Stadium in the early hours of Monday, July 12. 

Italy are no stranger to playing in a cup decider. Monday’s clash is going to be their fourth appearance in a UEFA Euro final. For England, however, it is not only going to be their first Euro final, but also a first appearance in any major final since winning the 1966 FIFA World Cup. This is the longest gap (55 years) between a final (including World Cup and Euro) for any European team.

Road to the final

Italy had a rather easy group, to say the least. Slotted in Group A, the Azzurri defeated Wales, Switzerland and Turkey to book a place in the knockout round. They beat Austria 2-1 in the round of 16, Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-final and Spain on penalties to seal their place in the summit clash.

England, on the other hand, managed to finish at the top of Group D standings with seven points from three games. The Three Lions started off their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Croatia and followed it up with a disappointing goalless draw against Scotland. Harry Kane and his men ended the group phase with another 1-0 win against the Czech Republic in front of their home fans. In the round of 16, goals from Kane and Raheem Sterling helped England secure a memorable 2-0 win over Germany as they booked their place in the final eight. 

A sumptuous performance against Ukraine saw them getting better of Andriy Shevchenko’s men 4-0 before they overcame a stern Danish test to get their way into the final.

Italy vs England head-to-head

England’s record against Italy hasn't been particularly good. The two teams have crossed paths on 27 occasions and the Three Lions have won just eight times. Italy though have won 11 while eight games have ended in a draw.

Since the turn of the century, England have beaten Italy just once in seven games. It is to note that England have never beaten Italy in a major international tournament. Although they did beat them 2-0 in November 1977 in a World Cup qualifier.

Italy team news and injury update

Italy are set to be without their maverick full-back Leonardo Spinazzola who was ruled out of the competition after suffering a serious injury against Belgium. Chelsea wing-back Emerson Palmieri did well against Spain and will be expected to keep his place in the final.

England team news and injury update

England welcomed Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in the starting XI against Denmark after the youngster had missed the quarter-final game against Ukraine. The 19-year-old repaid the faith by playing his role in England’s equalizer.

Southgate also switched to a four-man defence against Denmark after playing with a three-at-the-back formation against Germany. So it remains to be seen how the manager would approach this fixture. The Three Lions have a clean slate of injury bills and Southgate will want to churn the best out of his players.

Where to watch Italy vs England UEFA Euro 2020 final in India?

The Italy vs England UEFA Euro 2020 final match will be telecast live at 12:30 AM IST on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 4 and Sony Ten Six TV, and their corresponding HD TV channels in India. Note that the match can be viewed in five different languages including English, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

Live streaming of Italy vs England Euro 2020 final will be available on SonyLIV and Jio TV.

SportsAdda will bring you Italy vs England Euro 2020 final live score.

Featured photo: AFP / Laurence Griffiths

The UEFA Euro 2020 has two mouth-watering semi-finals lined-up as Italy lock horns with three-time champions Spain while England clash with underdogs Denmark. The two high-profile encounters will feature some of the world’s most talented footballers and here are four players who can make a telling difference for their team’s when it matters most.

Lorenzo Insigne (Italy)

The Italy national football team winger has been one of the standout players in the ongoing edition of the European Championship. Lorenzo Insigne scored a stunning goal in the Euro 2020 quarter-final as Italy defeated a star-studded Belgium side 2-1 to book their place in the semis.

⚽️ Your Goal of the Round?

Lorenzo Insigne: Belgium v ITALY
Kasper Dolberg: Czech Republic v DENMARK
Nicolò Barella: Belgium v ITALY
Patrik Schick: CZECH REPUBLIC v Denmark@GazpromFootball | #EUROGOTR | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/s4JIvvNdVr

�?UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 3, 2021

His impressive performances in Euro 2020 have already attracted interest from FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. The Napoli winger will look to put on another dazzling performance in the high-profile encounter against Spain and further extend the Azzurri’s impressive unbeaten run. 

Sergio Busquets (Spain)

The 32-year-old midfield maestro has once again shown why he is such a vital cog in the Spain national football team. As Sergio Busquets missed the first two matches after testing COVID-19 positive, Spain struggled to control the tempo of games, registering lacklustre draws against Sweden and Poland. After his return in a must-win game against Slovakia, La Roja hammered their opponents 5-0 and followed it up with a 5-3 win after extra time over Croatia in a nail-biting round of 16 clash. The FC Barcelona midfielder won back-to-back man of the match awards showing his importance for the national side and Spain will bank on Busquets if they are to end Italy’s 32-match unbeaten run.

Positioning and football intelligence masterclass ... Sergio Busquets @Heineken | #EUROSOTM | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/71azqFunkx

�?UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 23, 2021

Harry Kane (England)

While the England football team striker received massive criticism for not managing to open his goal-scoring account in the three group matches at Euro 2020, Harry Kane bounced back strongly in the knockout stages. The Tottenham Hotspur forward scored an important goal as England defeated Germany 2-0 to knock Die Mannschaft out of the tournament in the round of 16. The 27-year-old followed it up with a brace in England’s 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine in the quarter-finals.

Harry Kane = 1st England player to score twice in a EURO finals knockout game ⚽️⚽️#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/cgIsRZwFLV

�?UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 3, 2021

The Three Lions will hope Kane can continue his impressive goal-scoring form as they look to claim their first silverware since the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

Kasper Dolberg (Denmark)

Denmark forward Kasper Dolberg has been a revelation in the ongoing European Championship so far. The OGC Nice striker has bagged three goals in his country’s dream run at Euro 2020. After scoring two goals against a much-fancied Wales side in the round of 16, Dolberg added another goal to his tally as Denmark defeated Czech Republic 2-1 to advance to the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

 

The 23-year-old has already attracted interest from Premier League clubs including Everton and he will look to put on another brilliant performance against England in the Euro 2020 semi-finals on Wednesday.

Featured photo: ALBERTO LINGRIA / Olaf Kraak / POOL / AFP

The UEFA Euro semi-finals has witnessed plenty of nail-biting and thrilling encounters over the years with close finishes and fans as well as players experiencing a wide range of emotions. There have been plenty of twists and turns in past Euro semis and the last-four stage in the 2020 edition promises to be no different as Italy takes on Spain in the first semi-final while England faces Denmark in the second.

Yugoslavia’s 5-4 triumph against France in the 1960 semis remains the highest-scoring game in Euros history, while West Germany’s 4-2 come-from-behind win is another memorable match from the last-four stage. However, here we look at a few more modern Euro semi-final classics.

West Germany 1-2 Netherlands, 1988

Though Marco van Basten’s stunning volley in the final of the 1988 European Championship is what everyone still remembers vividly, his decisive goal in the semi-final that sealed a final berth for the Dutch cannot be understated. West Germany secured a lead after the legendary Lothar Matthaus scored from the penalty spot. Ronald Koeman had restored parity for Netherlands as the game looked to be heading to extra-time before van Basten netted a dramatic late winner to secure a spot in the final and avenge Netherlands�?1974 defeat to Germany in the World Cup final. 

Germany 3-2 Turkey, 2008 

The 2008 Euro semi-final between Germany and Turkey was another classic rollercoaster of a contest with the pendulum swinging in favour of both sides over the course of the encounter. Even though Turkey were missing several players for the clash, they led once through Uğur Boral. However, Bastian Schweinsteiger quickly equalised and Miroslav Klose gave Germany the lead with 11 minutes left. Turkey then responded through a Semih Şentürk strike that levelled the score only for Philipp Lahm to net a rare goal in the closing stages and secure the German’s path to the final.

Germany 1-2 Italy, 2012

The 2012 semi-final is remembered for Mario Balotelli turning on the show and the iconic viral meme of the bare chested Italian striker flexing his muscles while celebrating the Azzurri’s second goal of the night. The Italian striker was instrumental in halting Germany’s run of 15 consecutive victories. His header gave Italy an early lead before powerfully rifling a second past Manuel Neuer. Germany could never recover despite Mesut Özil's added-time penalty as Italy earned a memorable semi-final win.

Featured photo : Ettore Ferrari / AFP

The semi-final round in UEFA Euro 2020 begins with a heavyweight clash between Italy and Spain on Wednesday, July 07.

The Italy national football team extended their unbeaten run in international football to 32 games following a nail-biting 2-1 victory against Belgium and will start as favourites against Spain.

Luis Enrique’s Spain are coming off a lacklustre win against Switzerland, which went into a penalty shootout after the game finished at 1-1. La Roja struggled for consistency in their entire fixture but somehow escaped to register their first semi-finals appearance since their victorious campaign in 2012.

Italy and Spain last faced each other in a UEFA Euro game in France 2016, with the former winning 2-0. The Azzurri, however, are still plagued by the ghosts of their Euro 2012 final defeat to Spain and will be eager to exact revenge on Sergio Busquets and Co.

Gareth Southgate’s men eased into the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2020 with a 4-0 rout of Ukraine at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. They will take on the Denmark national football team, the only dark horse remaining in the competition.

Since Christian Eriksen’s collapse in the team’s opening game of the tournament, Denmark have grown from strength to strength and brushed aside the Czech Republic 2-1 to book its first semi-final appearance in European championships since the title-winning campaign in 1992.

Both the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2020 will be played at the Wembley Stadium in England.

Euro 2020 semi-finals schedule, fixtures and India match times

All match times are in Indian Standard Time (IST)

Where to watch UEFA Euro 2020 semi-finals live in India?

The Sony Sports Network is the official broadcaster of UEFA Euro 2020 in India. The UEFA Euro 2020 semi-finals will be telecast live on Sony Six, Sony Ten 2 and their corresponding HD TV channels in India. Sony Ten 3 will telecast matches in Hindi.

Live streaming of UEFA Euro 2020 semi-finals will be available on the SonyLIV app and JioTV.

Featured photo: AFP / ANDREI PUNGOVSCHI

Swiss super fan Luca Loutenbach, who became a viral sensation after the round of 16 UEFA Euro 2020 match between Switzerland and France in Bucharest on Monday, has been handed free business class flight tickets to go watch his country play Spain in the quarter-finals at Saint Petersburg on Friday.

Loutenbach experienced contrasting moods and his range of emotions within the span of a few minutes made him a viral sensation. While he looked in despair and agony in one image as Switzerland headed for a Euro exit, he was jubilant and euphoric in the next after his team equalised to take the match into extra time.

We are proud to be the Official Airline Partner not only of the Swiss National Team, but also Official Airline Partner of our Super Fans ⚽️ @lucalo92 @nati_sfv_asf pic.twitter.com/7UykliikQr

�?Swiss Intl Air Lines (@FlySWISS) July 2, 2021

At one stage, Luca looked to be on the verge of tears with Switzerland heading out of the tournament as they trailed France going into the final minutes of normal time. 

However, a few moments later he had taken off his jersey and was seen zealously celebrating as Switzerland completed an improbable comeback to tie the score at 3-3 and take the game into extra time. His rollercoaster of emotions in the closing stages of normal time was captured on camera and went viral on social media. 

Switzerland don’t have Granit Xhaka for their clash with Spain, but they have Luca Loutenbach, their most famous fan. Swiss Air have paid for his business class flights to Russia, with Red Bull and the Swiss Tourist Office also getting in touch with him. pic.twitter.com/JzwfJhX84W

�?Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) June 30, 2021

Switzerland later went on to register one of the biggest upsets in UEFA Euro history with a 5-4 win on penalties after Kylian Mbappe missed the decisive spot-kick.

In addition to the flight tickets, drinks brand Red Bull have got in touch with Luca to offer some freebies while the Swiss government wants him to be a part of their COVID-19 vaccination campaign. 

And if that weren’t enough, the Swiss Tourist Office has also offered to give him a relaxing break following UEFA Euro 2020.

This isn’t the first time a fan has gone viral after a passionate show of emotions. Muhammad Sarim Akhtar became a social media sensation during the 2019 Cricket World Cup in a match between Pakistan and Australia at Taunton.

The Pakistan fan was visibly upset after his team dropped a catch near the boundary ropes and his disappointed emotions were evident for all to see as the TV camera soon focused on him. He went on to become a viral sensation and is still frequently used as a meme.

Featured photo : AFP / Christophe Simon